In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Health care facility” means a facility or an office where health care is provided to patients by a health care practitioner or group of health care practitioners licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized by law to provide health care services. “Health care facility” includes: A hospital, as defined in § 19–301 of this article; A freestanding medical facility, as defined in § 19–3A–01 of this article; A nursing facility; A residential treatment center; A rehabilitation facility; and A facility operated by the Department, the Behavioral Health Administration, or a health officer. “Service member” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article. “Service member community member” means: A service member; A veteran; The spouse of a service member or veteran; A child of a service member or veteran; or A stepchild of a service member or veteran. “Veteran” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article.

Each health care facility may screen each patient for information on the patient’s eligibility as a service member community member and include in the patient’s medical record whether the patient is a service member community member. For the purpose of improving health care equity for service member community members, each health care facility may identify service member community members as a vulnerable population and comply with the standards associated with the National Patient Safety Goal to Improve Health Care Equity established by The Joint Commission.